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The Paulownia Overview
Paulownia is globally known as the Princess Tree, named in honour of Queen Anna Pavlovna of The Netherlands. It is native to China and the Far East and
has been used in Japan for centuries as a furniture wood. It was an ancient Japanese custom to plant a Princess tree when a baby girl was born, and then to make it into a dresser as a wedding present or dowry when she got married. The Paulownia symbol is the crest of the office
of the prime minister and serves as the emblem of the Japanese cabinet and government.
Paulownia Tree Timber Properties and Value
Known in the industry as the “Aluminium of timbers”, Paulownia is 30%
lighter than any comparable hardwood, it is twist, shrink and warp resistant and virtually rot free. The fine grained and warp resistant properties make Paulownia wood exceptionally suited for making
wooden surfboards, lightweight touring skis as well as boats, pallets, household furniture and plywood. Several institutions are conducting research to develop fast growing Paulownia as a viable source of bio-fuel, a crucial step towards solving the global energy crisis.
Environmental Properties and Value of the Princess Tree
The Princess Tree is extremely fast growing and, once its timber is harvested, the tree naturally regenerates from existing root systems, earning it the nickname the Phoenix Tree. Aside from its immense capacity for Carbon absorption due to its enormous leaves, Paulownia has the ability
to reclaim ecologically stressed land due to its deep running root systems. This means that up to four rotations of timber growth and harvest can be made, without the need for major soil preparation or replanting, in the time it would take a Teak tree to reach just one harvest.
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